Cecil Nasworthy
Contra Costa Community College District
Los Medanos College

Barry Penning
Byron Union School District
Discovery Bay Elementary School

Erik Radkiewicz
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Pinole Valley High School

Michael Ruibal
Pittsburg Unified School District
Black Diamond High School

George Seymour
Oakley Union Elementary School District
O'Hara Park Middle School

Michelle Stark
Antioch Unified School District
Deer Valley High School

Karlene Steelman
Moraga School District
Joaquin Moraga Intermediate

Katherine Walton
Acalanes Union High School District
Acalanes High School

Scott Westphal
Lafayette School District
Burton Valley Elementary School

Melissa Anne Wunschel
Knightsen Elementary School District
Knightsen Elementary School

Note regarding eligible participants:

Seventeen of the eighteen Contra Costa County school districts represented (plus the CCCOE) are participating in this year's TOY program.

Each year, one instructor from Contra Costa Community College District is submitted to the TOY program for his/her outstanding body of work with their designated college. The colleges rotate each year between Diablo Valley, Los Medanos, and Contra Costa. This year, it is Diablo Valley College's turn. (These instructors do not compete in the State Teacher of the Year competition.)

Due to the larger number of students in their districts, West Contra Costa USD, Mt. Diablo USD, and San Ramon Valley USD are allowed to select two TOY candidates.

2018-19 TEACHER OF THE YEAR SELECTION COMMITTEE

Phil Arnold, Government Alliance on Race & Equity (GARE)

Laura DeLehunt, Contra Costa County DA's Office

Barbara Diskowski, Diablo Vista Retired Teachers Association

Hilary Dito, Contra Costa County Office of Education

Luke Ellis, G.J.E.L. Accident Attorneys

Hon. Jill Fannin, Contra Costa County Superior Court

Karl Fischer, Contra Costa Health Services

Justin Fivella, Contra Costa Water District

Pamela Hoffsass, Contra Costa County Sheriff's Crime Lab

Toby Hopstone, CCCOE Administrative Leadership Program Coach

Emily Justice, Contra Costa County Office of Education

Aimee Lohr, Phillips 66

Marilyn Lucey, 32nd PTA

Aaron McAlister, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District

Ellen McDonnell, Contra Costa County Public Defenders' Office

Alison Mockoski, Contra Costa County Library

Dan Peddycord, Contra Costa Public Health

Dr. Heidimarie Rambo, St. Mary's College

Vera Rowsey, West Contra Costa Retired Teacher Association

Dan Sabalesky, Shell Martinez Refinery

Matthew Schuler, Contra Costa Sheriff's Office

Melissa Stafford Jones, Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation

Karen Ward, Contra Costa County Schools Insurance Group

Erica Williamson, Contra Costa County Schools Insurance Group

Dr. Fred Wood, Contra Costa Community College District

Susan Yamashita, Lafayette School District (ret)

Nicholas Zefeldt, CCCOE, Former SRVUSD Teacher of the Year

ABOUT THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR PROGRAM

In 1972, California began recognizing outstanding teachers, establishing the Teachers of the Year Program. This program is open to all teachers in public schools who teach pre-kindergarten through college. Contra Costa County has participated in the program since its beginning, when Joseph E. Davis, Jr., of the Acalanes Union High School District, was named the county's first representative.

Since that time, eight teachers from this county have been State finalists: Janet Neill, San Ramon Valley Unified (1975); David Eakin, John Swett Unified (1981); William Thomas, Mt. Diablo Unified (1982); Janice Bergamini, Mt. Diablo Unified (1991); and Shauna Hawes, Mt. Diablo Unified (2017). The County has had four State winners: Mary Allan, Antioch Unified (2001); Janet Gower, Mt. Diablo Unified (2002); and William Pence, San Ramon Valley Unified (1999); and this year, Rosie Reid, Mt. Diablo Unified (2019). Both William Pence and Rosie Reid were selected to represent California at the National Teacher of the Year level.

The county's TOY program is directed by the CCCOE. With such a high caliber of teaching professionals to draw from, the CCCOE's TOY program uses a three-stage selection process, with a point and percentage system to determine the final candidate as follows:

I Application Screening:

On April 12, a committee representing the county's education, business, and public-sector partners will meticulously review the applications submitted by the school districts. This committee independently rates each application. After the application screening and scoring are completed, four teachers will be selected to advance to the next phase as semifinalists.

II Classroom Observation and Interview:

In April/May, a small committee of education specialists and business partners will observe the semifinalists interacting with their students. Immediately following, the committee interviews the candidates, discussing topics such as their teaching philosophy and techniques. The results of the two screening processes are then combined to determine the four finalists.

III Speech Presentation:

On July 24, the four TOY finalists will each give a three- to five-minute speech to another panel of a dozen educators, business, and public-sector representatives who will judge the finalists on their speech and presentation skills.

On the evening of September 26, 2019, all 22 TOYs, accompanied by their families, friends, and co-workers (an audience of approximately 450) will be honored at the annual Teacher of the Year Gala Dinner, held at the Hilton Concord. Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools Lynn Mackey, who serves as master of ceremonies, introduces the TOYs by sharing a special story that reflects her classroom visits of each teacher during the recent spring and summer months. This will be followed by the four finalists giving their three- to five-minute speeches (same speeches given in July) to the filled banquet room. The excitement-filled evening will come to a dramatic close with the announcement of the 2019-2020 Contra Costa County Teachers of the Year.

The County representatives are announced at the Awards Dinner in September at a gala affair that honors each district's Teacher of the Year. Local business and community organizations generously donate classroom grants, services and other items to each of the district winners.

HONOR OUR TEACHERS: DONATE TO THE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR PROGRAM

There are four major categories or levels for donating to the TOY Program:Title Sponsor -- Chevron USA ($10,000)

Most sponsors earmark their grants for the teachers' classrooms or schools; Chevron, Inc. sponsors the dinner itself, and the cost of dinner for each of the Teachers of the Year and three of their guests, in addition to $5,000 towards classroom grant distributed amongst the Teachers of the Year.